A student may desire to be addressed by a name that is different than their legal name. Creating an inclusive environment is part of Kent State University’s mission statement, and we recognize that some students use a name other than their legal name to identify themselves. Kent State University has established a process for identifying a preferred name.

The preferred name will be used where possible in the course of University business. There are places where the legal name will continue to be used for University business or legal needs. Students who are utilizing the preferred name should always be prepared to reference their legal name as well as provide their university identification when necessary.

Only the first and middle names can be updated with a preferred name. Last names cannot be updated through the preferred name process.

No. The ability to be called by a name that is familiar to the student but is not the student's legal name aligns with Kent State's "Student First" goal. If a student regularly uses their legal name, there is no reason to request a preferred name.

CAN A LAST NAME BE CHANGED USING THE PREFERRED NAME PROCESS

Yes. The preferred first name is limited to at least one alphabetical character (A-Z or a-z), and can include the following special characters: apostrophe, hyphen. The preferred middle name can be blank or can be at least one alphabetical character (A-Z or a-z), and can include the following special characters: apostrophe, hyphen.

No. The preferred name will be used where possible in the course of University business. There are places where the legal name will continue to be used for University business or legal needs. Students who are utilizing the preferred name should always be prepared to reference their legal name as well as provide their university identification when necessary. A listing of where the preferred name will be used may be found visiting the Preferred Name page.

Yes. The approved preferred name will be shown on all class and grade rosters. If a preferred name is approved in the current term, instructors will receive an email notification that a student has an approved preferred name. The rosters will now reflect this change. It is expected that the student will be addressed by the chosen preferred name. If the class roster has been printed, please note the change or print a new roster.

Yes. Once a preferred name is approved, it will appear in the student directory. It is possible to search by either the legal or preferred name. The preferred name will be the only result returned in the search.

No. The creation of the kent.edu email addressed is based on an algorithm and is assigned when a student is initially admitted or employed. A student can, at any time, change their display name of their kent.edu email address. Please contact TechHelp at either support.kent.edu or at 330-672-HELP.

The preferred name request process is not intended to entertain repeated requests for a preferred name change. Additional requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The student is encouraged to state the reason to change from one preferred name to another in the comments section of the request form. The preferred name is not intended to be used for purposes of fraud or misrepresentation. The Office of the University Registrar has the authority to deny any request or remove a preferred name.

Once a preferred name has been approved, allow two business days for the name to appear in the systems. It is highly recommended for students to obtain a new FlashCard with their preferred name as soon as possible. The preferred name will be on the front of the card and the legal name will be printed on the back of the card.

The student will need to visit the Student Services area of their regional campus for assistance in obtaining their new FlashCard. You will have to surrender your old FlashCard to receive the new card.

Preferred name is for use within the university community. International students may feel free to select a preferred name for on-campus use. However, this does not apply in situations where one's legal name is required to be used. For the purpose of F-1 and J-1 student visa status, the legal name must be used on I-20s and DDS-2019s. An individual's legal name is what appears on the passport.